Improving Confidence and Self-efficacy for Job Interviews for Women With a Mental Health Diagnosis

Abstract

This action research study explores the impact that a nonverbal communication intervention could have on confidence levels of women with a mental diagnosis during the job interview process. The subjects of the pilot intervention were six women who were associated with the organization and who volunteered to participate in the study. These six women are all considered to have familiarity with the services offered by the organization and the demographic of the clients whom it services. The group of participants were part of a workshop that presented on nonverbal communication skills and then had take-home activities and resources to practice improving their nonverbal communication skills. The action research used a mixed-methodology approach to evaluate the relationship between nonverbal communication skills and confidence. Data were obtained using evaluation surveys relating to the content of the pilot intervention, their perceptions of the ability of increasing confidence levels, and the value of the take-home practice exercises. The data was analyzed using thematic coding to present a story about the experiences of the participants who went through the intervention. The data suggested that training did make a difference in increasing confidence levels. This information can be used by organizations as a resource for clients with a mental health diagnosis to improve impression management and job interview preparation.